Brinks bank robbery
The Brinks bank robbery, which occurred in the mid-20th century, is regarded as the largest bank robbery in American history at the time. This meticulously planned heist involved over two years of preparation, including multiple break-ins, lock alterations, and rehearsals by the bandits, who were all seasoned criminals. On the night of the robbery, they infiltrated the bank, taking control of the premises, binding five employees, and ultimately making off with around $1.2 million in cash along with $1.5 million in money orders and securities. However, the gang's plans unraveled when one member, Joseph "Specs" O'Keefe, felt cheated and threatened to expose them, prompting his partners to hire an assassin in an attempt to silence him. O'Keefe survived a shootout and later confessed, leading to the life sentences of eight robbers in 1956. While some of the stolen money was recovered, a significant portion remained missing, and the government's efforts to bring the criminals to justice cost approximately $29 million. This case highlights the complexities of organized crime and its consequences, both for the perpetrators and society at large.
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Brinks bank robbery
The Event: Robbery of 2.7 million dollars in cash, checks, and securities from a Boston bank
Date: January 17, 1950
Place: Boston, Massachusetts
Significance: One of the most sensational and celebrated crimes of the twentieth century, the Brinks robbery is notable for both its size and the meticulousness with which it was carried out.
The largest bank robbery in American history at its time, the Brinks bank robbery was the culmination of a criminal scheme that required more than two years of elaborate preparation. Preparations included breaking into the bank several times prior to the main robbery, changing locks to key doors, and conducting a series of exacting rehearsals. On the evening of the robbery, the bandits, all career criminals, crept into the building at 7:30 p.m., passed through several locked doors to the bank’s counting room, and bound and gagged five surprised employees present. They left the building with approximately $1.2 million in cash and $1.5 million in money orders and securities.
The bandits’ initial plans to hide their loot and stay out of view until the relevant statute of limitations expired were derailed when one of the robbers, Joseph “Specs” O’Keefe, complained that he had been cheated by his partners and demanded more money. Concerned that he would reveal the crime to authorities, the rest of the gang hired an assassin to kill him. O’Keefe was wounded in a dramatic street shootout but survived and subsequently confessed to police.
In 1956, eight of the robbers received life sentences as a result of O’Keefe’s testimony. Numerous other accessories to the crime received shorter sentences. A large portion of the money and securities recovered had decomposed or was otherwise damaged, and more than $1 million in cash was never recovered. The government spent approximately $29 million to arrest, try, and convict all parties to the crime.
Bibliography
Kirchner, L. R. Robbing Banks: An American History, 1831-1999. Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo Press, 2000.
Sifakis, Carl. Strange Crimes and Criminals. New York: Facts On File, 2001.